“What of their famed labyrinth?”Theseus tried to sound casual.“I am guessing that will be one of the trials?”
Marco gave a nod.“Most likely.There are stories that the labyrinth connects to other parts of the fae world, and thus it isn’t as secretive as some of the other aspects of the Court of Swordmaidens.From my research, the key to navigating the labyrinth is to go forward, always down, and never left or right.But more than that or what the other trials might be, I cannot say.”
It was about what Theseus had expected, though it would have been nice to have more information to better prepare for what he would be facing.
“Are you sure about this, Your Majesty?”Philostrate regarded him with a bland expression, not giving away his own thoughts on the matter besides the ones revealed in his question.“You can’t afford to be killed.The Court will need you to lead us on Midsummer Night.”
Philostrate had a point.They only had two moons until Midsummer Night.If Theseus died—without an heir as he was—the Court of Knowledge would be plunged into leaderless chaos right before the most dangerous Midsummer they had experienced in a long time.
Theseus gritted his teeth, staring Philostrate down.“If you have a better option, then name it.”
Philostrate snapped his mouth shut and looked away.Even Head Librarian Marco shifted and wouldn’t meet Theseus’s gaze, and Marco was rarely uncomfortable about anything.
But as the silence stretched long and painful, neither of them offered any suggestion at all, much less a better one.
That was what Theseus thought.He had no choice.He either won the hand of Queen Hippolyta and bargained for her help on Midsummer Night or he and his Court would face a desperate last stand to stave off the coming hordes of monsters.
“As none of us can think of a better option, there is no sense in putting this off.”Theseus faced his two advisors, wiping any dread from his expression or voice.“I don’t know how long it will take or how long I will be gone.Philostrate, I will do my best to send messages back through the Anywhere Door as often as I can.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”Philostrate bowed, tense grooves cutting across his face.“I will update you on any developments as I can, assuming the swordmaidens allow messages to reach you.”
“Head Librarian Marco…” Theseus trailed off, not sure what to say.If Theseus died without an heir, the nobles would squabble over who had the most claim to the throne.It would be up to Head Librarian Marco to sort out the mess.
“I understand, Your Majesty.”Marco gave a sharp nod before he disentangled his fingers from his beard.“Just see to it that you return safely.It would save all of us a great deal of trouble.”
That it would.
“Trust me.I have no intention of dying.”Theseus rested his hand on the sword he had belted to his waist.
Neither Marco nor Philostrate pointed out that having no intention of dying did very little to prevent someone from getting killed if he found himself outmatched.But the looks they both gave him said they were thinking it.
Besides the two advisors in this room, Theseus had no one to tell farewell before he left.No one besides the people in this room would even care if he died, besides the inconvenience and chaos it would cause in their lives.A few of the courtiers might even rejoice at his death, since it would give them a chance at claiming the throne for themselves.
The throne was a lonely place to sit, and he couldn’t even admit that to anyone.That was a weakness the other Courts and his own nobles would exploit.
And now, if he managed to win Queen Hippolyta’s hand, he would be lonely even with his own wife.He could never trust her.She would always place the good of her own Court above his, even if she could be convinced to help.
Then again, she would never trust him either since he would also place the good of the Court of Knowledge over her Court.It was, after all, the reason he was seeking to marry her.All he wanted was a bargain that would save his Court.
Mutual distrust.That was the best he could hope for in this marriage.If he had in his most foolish dreams harbored the hope that someday when he married he would no longer face the isolation of the crown alone, then that dream would have to die.
Theseus glanced over his shoulder, drawing in one more glimpse of the glittering Library dome and the precious books it housed within.
He could handle this.The trials.The future loneliness.The burden of distrusting his own wife.Whatever it took, as long as the Great Library was protected.
Theseus pushed away from the window and strode across the room, nodding to Philostrate and Marco as he passed.
They fell into step behind him, following him as he strolled down the curving stairs of the tower.The stairs ended in a hallway filled with the private rooms reserved for the royal family.
Only one lonely room was occupied.
He traversed the hall, reaching the center entrance of the castle.A large set of double doors took him to the Hall of Anywhere Doors.These Doors connected to places all over the Fae Realm, providing all of the Courts access to the knowledge contained in the Great Library.
Theseus faced the nearest Anywhere Door and rested his hand on the latch.Perhaps he should turn around.Maybe Marco and Philostrate expected him to give a speech or one more set of instructions or something.
But he had said all that needed saying.
Now was the time for action.
